Machine for assembling universal joints



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Claims. (Cl. 29-208) This invention relates to universal joints of the type comprising two yokes, a four trunnion spider, and antifriction bearings pressed onto the trunnions and into the holes of the yoke arms.

Heretofore, the assembly of such joints has involved a series of hand operations including the snaking of the spider trunnions into the yoke holes to form a loosely assembled unit, holding each trunnion centered approximately in its yoke hole as the bearing is inserted from the outer end of the hole, pressing the bearing home, and finally applying and seating a snap ring in the hole.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine for receiving the loose assembly and then inserting the bearings and snap rings entirely automatically to form the final joint assembly.

Another object is to hold the loose parts of a joint rigidly in their finally assembled relation with the spider trunnions centered in the respective yoke holes while the joint is presented to successive mechanisms for inserting the bearings and snap rings.

A further object is to provide novel positioning mechanism which holds the joint parts in their finally assembled relation by abutment with accurately located exterior surfaces of the parts, thereby leaving the trunnions and yoke holes free to receive the bearings.

Another object is to construct the individual positioning mechanisms of a plurality of fixtures in a novel manner for opening and closing each mechanism by actuators common to all of the fixtures.

The invention also resides in the novel construction of the various mechanisms by which the bearings and snap rings are advanced automatically onto the spider trunnions and into the yoke holes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a universal joint assembling machine embodying the present invention, the view omitting all joint supporting fixtures except the one at the loading station.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operating mechanisms at the various stations.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the' line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a completely assembled joint.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the joint.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a loosely assembled joint with the yoke arms shown in section in the plane of the spider trunnion axes.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing bearings and snap rings assembled in the holes of one yoke.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view takenalong the line 10-10 of Fig. 1.

2,861,328 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the downwardly facing spider and yoke holders.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the spider and yoke holders.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a fixture taken along the line 13-13 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 15-15 of Fig. 14.

Figs. 16 and 17 are sectional views taken along the lines 16-16 and 17-17 respectively of Fig. 14.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of upwardly facing the holder actuating mechanism.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 14 showing the holder latching parts in different positions.

Fig. 20 is a side elevational view of a fixture looking to the right in Fig. 13 with some of the parts broken away.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bearing inserting mechanism taken along the line 21-21 of Fig. 2 with some of the parts broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Fig. 21 showing the parts in diflerent positions.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 23-23 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the ring inserting mechanism taken along the line 24-24 of Fig. 2 with some of the parts broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 25 is a sectional view taken along the line 25-25 of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a perspective view of a part of the ring insert ing mechanism.

Fig. 27 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view of the mechanism of Fig. 24.

Fig. 28 is a hydraulic circuit and electric switch diagram of the operating mechanisms at the various stations.

While the invention is applicable to the assembly of all universal joints of the type above referred to, it is shown in the drawings and described herein in connection with a joint commonly used in automotive vehicles. This joint (see Figs. 6 to 9) comprises a spider 10 having four right angular trunnions 11 and 12 and two yokes 13 and 14 having accurately alined holes 15 receiving antifriction bearings 16 in which the trunnions are journaled. Herein, the bearings are needle bearings of the full series cageless type each having a cup-shaped race ring 17 fitting into a yoke hole 15 and a plurality of plain rollers 18 (Figs. 6 and 9) held by grease in side by side contact around the interior of the race ring until the bearing is pressed onto a spider trunnion. Each of the trunnions 11 and 12 comprises a cylindrical surface machined on the outer end portion of an arm 19 of the spider and terminating at an oil seal which in this instance comprises a ring 20 of yieldable material seated in a metal ring 21 of L-shaped cross section pressed onto the trunnion against a shoulder; In the boring of the holes 15 in the yokes, the axes of the holes are located accurately relative to the outer arcuate end surfaces 22 and 22 of the yoke arms as by V-shaped positioning elements abutting such surfaces. Plane surfaces 23 and 24 normal to the hole axis also are machined on the inner and outer sides of each yoke arm. Spaced inwardly from the outer surface 24 of each yoke arm and extending around the interior of the yoke hole is a narrow annular receive a snap ring 26.

In such joints, the holes 15 in the yokes 13 and 14 are large enough in relation to the size and length of the spider arms 19 to permit snaking of first one and then the other of the yoke arms onto the oppositely projecting groove 25 adapted to 

